From the Guidelines
In the context of medical terminology, "pres" is most likely an abbreviation for "pressure," often referring to blood pressure. When considering the term "pres" in a medical context, it's essential to prioritize the most relevant and recent information. Given the provided evidence from the seventh report of the joint national committee on prevention, detection, evaluation, and treatment of high blood pressure 1, the focus is on the classification of blood pressure for adults. The report emphasizes the importance of lifestyle modifications for individuals with prehypertension to reduce their risk of developing hypertension. Key points to consider include:
- The classification of blood pressure is based on the average of 2 or more properly measured, seated BP readings on each of 2 or more office visits.
- Prehypertension is not a disease category but a designation to identify individuals at high risk of developing hypertension.
- Individuals with prehypertension should be advised to practice lifestyle modification to reduce their risk of developing hypertension.
- The treatment goal for individuals with hypertension and no other compelling conditions is 140/90 mm Hg. In real-life clinical medicine, understanding and managing blood pressure is crucial for preventing complications and improving patient outcomes, as highlighted by the guidelines 1. Therefore, in a medical context, "pres" likely refers to blood pressure, and its management is critical for reducing morbidity, mortality, and improving quality of life.
From the Research
Definition of PRES
- Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES) is an acute neurotoxic syndrome characterized by a spectrum of neurological and radiological features from various risk factors 2, 3.
- Common neurological symptoms of PRES include headache, impairment in level of consciousness, seizures, visual disturbances, and focal neurological deficits 2, 3.
Clinical Features and Outcome
- The classic radiographic findings of PRES include bilateral subcortical vasogenic edema predominantly affecting the parieto-occipital regions, but atypical features include involvement of other regions, cortical involvement, restricted diffusion, hemorrhage, and contrast enhancement 2.
- While clinical and radiographic reversibility is common, long-standing morbidity and mortality can occur in severe forms of PRES 2.
- Various factors have been associated with poor outcome in PRES, including altered sensorium, hypertensive etiology, hyperglycemia, longer time to control the causative factor, elevated C reactive protein, coagulopathy, extensive cerebral edema, and hemorrhage on imaging 2.
Associations and Epidemiology
- Associations with PRES include renal failure, preeclampsia and eclampsia, autoimmune conditions, and immunosuppression 2, 3.
- COVID-19 has been identified as a potential risk factor for PRES, with a prevalence of 1-4% in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection undergoing neuroimaging 3.